8. Métamorphose (2022), Ethan Nylander
This piece pays homage to some of the great French cathedrals where European monophonic music transformed into polyphony. Each of the 3 movements represents one of the Cathedrals; the Cathédrale de Reims, Chartres Cathédrale, and Cathédrale Notre Dame de Paris. Each movement uses the bass flute and extended techniques to quote influential composers of plainchant from each of these cathedrals, who were instrumental in this transformation. We end with the Cathédrale Notre Dame de Paris, where Léonin and Pérotin made the revolutionary additions of 3 and 4-part harmonies to the pre-existing organum, and you may recognize brief quotes of other well-known Paris-based composers. The quoted chants have been given a contemporary spin, but you will still hear the booming reverberance of the great cathedrals in which these chants were sung.

Métamorphose, Contemporary works for Low Flutes by Francophone Composers

Ethan Nylander, alto and bass flute

Track 13